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3 June 2009

William Balfour Campbell - 8th Punjab Regiment

Medals held:1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and MiD, General Service Medal 1918 (clasps Kurdistan and Iraq), India General Service Medal (clasp Waziristan 1921-24).This from the medal dealer's write-up at the time of purchase in March 2008:A fine
Officer casualty 'MID' group of 5: Major W.B. Campbell, 2nd Battalion 8th
Punjab Regiment late 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders

William Balfour Campbell, was born 20 July 1894, at 120 High Street, Leslie,
Fife, Scotland. His father was described as being a 'Railway Engine Driver'.
His family later moved to St.Andrews, where the family resided at 158, South
Street. Notwithstanding the prevailing social discrimination that worked
against giving men from 'working class' backgrounds a commission, the onset of
the Great War quickly challenged old attitudes to class and William Campbell
was commissioned into the British Army on 4/12/1914, and appointed to serve
with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He first entered France and Flanders
on 4/10/1915. He remained in France until 2/4/1916, on which date he was
wounded in action by 'GSW' near St.Eloi, while serving as the battalion
'Bombing Officer' in charge of the 'Grenade Section' - a singularly hazardous
appointment in any B.E.F. battalion. Indeed his section had been in action in
the early hours of 2/4/1916 in a series of counter-attacks to regain a
prominent position on the salient. 1/Gordon's battalion war diary for the
period refers;

" Three attempts were made in early morning to get back point 64 which the
enemy was still holding. Canadian and Royal Scots bombing parties took part but
attempts failed owing to the enemy occupation of a shallow trench in rear from
which he could bomb 64 thereby preventing our occupation. There was some heavy
shelling during the day. 2nd Lt. W.B. Campbell was wounded."

William Campbell served just over 6 months in France and Flanders, before being
invalided back to Scotland suffering from the wounds he had received in action.
While in Scotland recovering, he applied for a transfer to the Indian Army. On
31st July 1917, his application was accepted. He embarked on a troopship for
India on 11 October 1917 as a probationer for the Indian Army. He subsequently
served in Mesopotamia from 15/5/1918 through to 1920. He was
Mentioned-in-Despatches (MID) for his distinguished services in Iraq, the MID
notification being published in the London Gazette of 9/9/1921. He appears to
have retired from the Indian Army, with the rank of Major by 1930

With various copied research papers, including his Officers papers for the
'British Service' and the application/referrals for a commission in the 'Indian
Army'

4 comments:

Hi there PaulMy name is Sandra Balfour BRASELL from New Zealand. William Balfour CAMPBELL was my grandfather's first cousin. William Balfour CAMPBELL died, aged 54 years, at Grey Lodge in Carnoustie on 10 May 1950. William's mother was Julia BALFOUR who married John CAMPBELL. Julia BALFOUR was my great grandmother Ann BALFOUR's older sister. Do you by any chance know anything more about William Balfour CAMPBELL?

Thanks very much for that Paul. It's fantastic to know a bit more about him. Much appreciated. I'd like to post about it on my blog https://jeandavidisabellaandjohn.wordpress.com/ if that's okay with you. I would link to your blog. I'm pleased his medals have ended up with someone who obviously appreciates them.

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